Overview: You are part of a
tribal force working for a powerful and well-financed warlord in western
Afghanistan. A NATO convoy traveling on the main road to Kandahar has been
struck by a coordinated ambush consisting of two road mines and a small band of
attackers wielding small arms. The convoy was disabled, but the attackers were
outnumbered and all were killed in the ensuing fire fight. Fearing an attack
from a larger force encamped near a cave not far away, a chinook helicopter was
scrambled to extract the surviving NATO troops. In their haste they left behind
classified data detailing NATO plans for the rebuilding of the Afghan national
army. Such information would be a major boon for your leader. As it would be for
a rival warlord, to whom the forces encamped in the nearby cave just happen to
belong...

Battle Plan: Your force is to be
inserted via helicopter just over a ridge a half-kilometer northeast of the
road. You are to proceed to the back of the stricken convoy where the 5-ton
trucks were stranded. It is believed the classified data was being transported
in one of these trucks, and an advance scout reports seeing several crates
strewn along the road next to a burning truck. With any luck the data will be
found there. The rival warlord has this intelligence as well, so expect his
tribal forces to be heading there too, and expect them to be hostile. Your
instructions are to do whatever you have to do to defend yourself, and secure
the data for your side. Our scouts also report a couple vehicles left idling
along the road ahead of the convoy. It appears they belonged to the attackers
who were killed by the NATO troops, so once you have secured the NATO data, you
are to make your way up the road to these vehicles and use them to extract.

Intel: NATO is well aware of the
data it left behind. To ensure it isn’t compromised before they can retrieve it
themselves they’re having F-16s fly sorties over the area, bombarding the
grounds with cluster bombs. Keep an eye out for contrails on the horizon, as the
early warning they provide may give you enough time to seek cover in one of four
bomb shelters found in the area. Constructed years ago by mujahideen fighters
seeking safety from Soviet bombardment, you’ll be out of the air strikes’ reach
in those. You can also seek cover, though not as safely, in one of two long
systems of trenches dug along the slopes on both sides of the road. If you’re
caught out in the open during a bombardment, you’ll need all the luck you can
get. The other major hazard you’ll have to deal with are enemy snipers. The
arid terrain is broken up by large rock formations which snipers can and will
use to gain a good vantage point. Stay near cover when you can, and save your
strength for sprints across open spaces. This is an extremely
hazardous mission soldier, you’ll need some very sharp eyes if you want to
survive, let alone succeed.
Good luck!